Your budding chemist may enjoy attending a chemistry camp with his peers. Through hands-on experiments, chemistry camps help kids connect real-world situations with science. Learn what makes a volcano erupt, or make your own bottle rocket through knowledge of chemical reactions. Older kids will learn more academic topics, as well, such as the periodic table and chemical compounds. Some chemistry camps are just for girls, teaching them about acid and pH levels, kitchen chemistry and even crime scene investigations. Other camps are strictly for boys, or co-ed.

Levels of Expertise: Younger kids can have fun at week-long camps, such as those geared toward elementary school or middle school students, complete with laboratory experiments and group discussions on alloys and metals, crystals, acids and ions.

Counselor Certifications: Since many chemistry camps are held at local colleges or universities, instructors are often graduates and undergraduate students of the school; other times, certified science teachers are in charge of the camps.

What to Ask the Camp Director: Is the camp you want strictly a chemistry camp or a more general science camp? Science camps operate under a larger umbrella, covering general science topics that may or may not include intensive chemistry instruction.